…..we need a good conspiracy. and.. drum roll..
WE HAVE ONE.
The National Solar Observatory in New Mexico has been closed down for days with little explanation…
Weird..
That headline has caused panic and chaos in online circles who speculate about such things.
From what we know, the research facility at Sacramento Peak was evacuated Thursday last week as was a nearby United States Post Office. It’s not clear when they will open their doors again.
Oh it gets weirder..
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, which operates the Sunspot observatory, said in a statement to the Daily News Wednesday afternoon that it is “addressing a security issue.”
Officials decided to “temporarily vacate the facility as a precautionary measure,” spokeswoman Shari Lifson said, adding AURA is “working with the proper authorities on this issue.”
And yes.. even weirder.
The entire facility has been surrounded by police tape and techs working at the observatory were contacted who said: “It was a security risk area, and we were told to leave and don’t come back until we were told to.”
And apparently there are Blackhawk helicopters at the site, circling overhead and that crews were on towers and around antennas and added that the sheriff’s office was not part of the investigation.
Rod Spurgeon, a spokesman with the USPS:
“Right now, what we’re told is that they’ve temporarily evacuated the area. We haven’t been told why… or when that expires.”
A statement was made by the Otero County Sheriff:
“The FBI is refusing to tell us what’s going on. We’ve got people up there (the observatory) that requested us to standby while they evacuate it. Nobody would really elaborate on any of the circumstances as to why. The FBI were up there. What their purpose was nobody will say.”
All of this sounds a bit too much like the beginning of STRANGER THINGS, don’t you think!?
It’s unclear when the observatory and the post office will reopen. Postal workers have been temporarily transferred to the post office in Cloudcroft, a USPS official told ABC7.
Maybe weirdest…
The FBI has not responded to requests for comment on the matter, according to local media. However according to ABC7, the federal agency told Sheriff House that the evacuation order could remain in place for several days.
Sunspot is located in the Sacramento Mountains in Otero County about 15 miles south of the village Cloudcroft. There is currently a working telescope at the observatory, where New Mexico State University also conducts research.
Let the conspiracies rage!!
